There is hereby created in the Borough of Hawthorne an Environmental
Commission pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:56A-1 et seq., with the membership,
powers, duties and responsibilities hereafter set forth in this chapter.
The Environmental Commission shall keep minutes of its meetings
and records of its activities and shall make an annual report to the
Municipal Council of the Borough of Hawthorne.
The meeting schedule shall be announced in the beginning of
each year and shall be advertised in accordance with the Open Public
Meeting Law, P.L. 1975, c. 231 (N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.). The public
is invited to attend and participate in all matters affecting their
interest. Minutes and records shall be placed on file in the office
of the Borough Clerk and made available to the public upon a reasonable
request to provide a copy for their review.
The Environmental Commission shall have the following powers
and duties:
A. It shall keep an index of all open areas, publicly or privately owned,
including open marshlands, swamps and other wetlands, in order to
obtain information of the proper use of such areas, and it may from
time to time recommend to the Planning Board plans and programs for
inclusion in the Borough Master Plan and for the development and use
of such areas.
B. The Environmental Commission may, as it deems fit, conduct research
into the use and possible use of the open land areas of the municipality
and may coordinate the activities of unofficial bodies organized for
similar purposes.
C. The Environmental Commission may advertise, prepare, print and distribute
books, maps, charts, plans and pamphlets which in its judgment it
deems necessary for its purposes.
D. The Environmental Commission shall have the power to study and make
recommendations concerning open space preservation, water resources
management, air pollution control, solid waste management, noise control,
soil and landscape protection, environmental appearance, marine resources
and protection of flora and fauna.
E. The Environmental Commission is authorized to create, maintain and manage a Community Garden on lands owned by the Borough of Hawthorne and specifically designated for such purpose by the Mayor of the Borough of Hawthorne. The Commission may, in furtherance of such authorization, establish rules, regulations and policies regarding use of the Community Garden and collect fees as may be authorized by Chapter
220, Fees, as established and amended from time to time.
[Added 5-7-2014 by Ord. No. 2113-14]